Safe Natural Remedies For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an ailment that causes pain, stiffness, swelling and even a loss of function in the joints. Though it is known to affect any joint, it is mostly found in the wrist and fingers. Besides the joints, it can also affect different parts of the body, such as the eyes, lungs and mouth. Though not exclusive, the disease is prevalent among women and elderly. Most people that suffer from this potentially crippling disease are usually in the 25 to 55 age group range.

Until now, the exact causes of this form rheumatoid arthritis are not yet known. It is thought that genes and hormones play a crucial factor, since the human body's own immune system is the one responsible for attacking tissues and organs that ultimately lead to the occurrence of inflammation. Though there are currently no cures and medicines that can completely heal rheumatoid arthritis, there are many proven natural and safe remedies that can help relieve the pain of those who suffer from the disease.

Here are some of those remedies:

Consuming natural herbs is one way to combat the disease and reduce its agonizing symptoms. These include taking gamma linolenic acid, which can be found in evening primrose oil, black currant seed oil and borage oil. If taken regularly, the symptoms of the arthritis can be significantly reduced. Another herb that is known for its potency against the disease is the devil's claw. Native to South Africa, the herbs contain iridoid glycosides, which are known to improve the treatment of arthritis. For a short-term solution, taking dry ginger mixed with black pepper, salt and honey can provide some relief from pain.

However, one supplement that has been gaining popularity due to its potency is omega-3. Because inflammation is the primary cause of pain in people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, reducing the inflammation is essential. Omega 3 fatty acids contain natural anti-inflammatory properties that can significantly provide pain relief. Fish oil is highly rich in essential omega 3 and should therefore be included in your dietary supplements. Besides the beneficial role that these fatty acids play in reducing joint pain, they can also improve the overall health of your body, particularly your heart and brain.

Instead of relying on prescription medications that might not be effective and have potentially dangerous side-effects, perhaps it is time that you looked into natural remedies to help deal with your arthritis joint problems. If you would like to know more about the benefits of fish oil supplements to help relieve the debilitating effects of joint pain, check out my website. I have many simple tips and advice that is effective in preventing joint pain so you can get on with your life again.

Psoriatic Arthritis IBS - Find Out the Alarming Connections Between These Conditions

The Debilitating Symptoms of IBS

Often times, Irritable Bowel Syndrome can cause some disabling symptoms such as consistent diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, etc. It can also cause pain in the muscles and joints as a result of the histamines that result from the immune system's defense mechanism against antigens that reach your gut via the Leaky Gut Syndrome.

Process of the Leaky Gut Syndrome

The Leaky Gut Syndrome occurs when the yeast in your gut overgrows beyond normal amounts and mutate to drill holes in your gut. The food particles from the consumed foods, would then enter your bloodstream through these holes. The foods or antigens are seen as a foreign substance and begins to attack them resulting in histamines.

Skin Problems and the Solution

With the yeast overgrowth and the histamines being present, this can quickly result in eczema and/or psoriasis being present. The most important thing to do as a result of these chronic skin conditions, is to keep your skin moisturized at all times. Ensure that you use a thicker type of cream that is considered for extreme dry skin. Use this cream on your body immediately after you dry yourself after taking a shower. This will keep the moisture in your skin. Similarly, if you see that your skin is peeling at any point in time, ensure to keep a container of cream around to re-moisturize the dry areas on your body. In countries where the air is extremely dry, ensure that you keep a closer eye on your skin to prevent it from over-drying.

A Bucket of Problems

For arthritis problems, make sure that you try to keep rigorous activities to a minimum. Take pain medications only when it is truly necessary. It is evidently clear that there is a connection between psoriasis, eczema, arthritis, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. IBS often being the causative factor for all of these conditions.

Tips Provided

A change to your daily diet as well as the introduction of probiotics, will do wonders in minimizing the occurrences of psoriasis, eczema, arthritis and other IBS caused conditions.

Artrosilium: Effective Arthritis Treatment?

Arthritis is one of the most widespread diseases today. Literally millions of people are affected by this disease, and not just in the United States or the United Kingdom. With over a hundred different variations of the disease, young and old may be affected, male or female. The result is that a rising number of the world's population are afflicted with painful, inflamed joints - with no definite cure in sight.

The reason I say there is no cure in sight is that even with all the tools at its disposal, conventional medicine has yet to find a way to permanently remove arthritis. Short of surgery to replace the affected joints, there is no known medication, therapy or program that can effectively cure the disease.

Despite the lack of an outright cure, there are several methods do deal with the symptoms of arthritis. These include medications of differing strength and potency, therapies to return lost flexibility, and, as previously mentioned, even surgical options to replace joints too damaged to be effectively treated by other methods. For most people, these methods are enough; others, however, may continue to look for other means of treating their arthritis symptoms.

One treatment method that people have been using is through the use of a product called Artrosilium. Artrosilium is a gel product made from organic silica, that claims to be able to provide effective and immediate relief from arthritis pain and inflammation. It is said that many people have tried it and found it to be highly effective for their arthritis symptoms, and it remains a popular option among the different products available on the market today.

But what makes Artrosilium work? First off, the key is said to be in their main ingredient, which is organic silica. Silica is one of the most abundant elements on earth, and is one of the most important elements to the human body. It is said to help the body make better use of iron, calcium, magnesium, and other elements in your body, and is essential for bone growth and development. It is also an important component of all elastic tissue, including the connective tissue of the joints.

One of the difficulties of making use of silica to treat arthritis is that the body does not easily absorb the element. However, it was found that making use of a gel helps the body to do so, allowing those with arthritis to find relief from their symptoms.

If organic silica gel is so effective, then, why should people use Artrosilium alone? There are, after all, a number of different products that offer a similar gel, and it would seem to make sense that one form of the gel would be as effective as another. One of the secrets behind Artrosilium is that it also makes use of two herbal remedies, namely Queen of the Meadow, and blackcurrant, to make the solution even more effective.

Queen of the Meadow is well-known to be an herbal aspirin, or pain-killer, which helps to relieve pain without any harmful side effects, while blackcurrant has long been used as an arthritis remedy to relieve pain and inflammation. Through the addition of these two herbs, the formulation of Artrosilium becomes more effective than any other organic silica gel products available.

One of the concerns of people who are considering taking the product is the lack of scientific evidence and testing to confirm the claims of the manufacturers of Artrosilium. This is understandable, given the wide range of products that seem to seek only to cash in on the many people who are affected with arthritis, without providing any relief at all. Despite this lack, however, Artrosilium has many supporters, many of which have actually used the product themselves, and say they found effective pain relief.

Most people who consider using the product have usually tried other products as well, and are wary to try a new product that claims to be effective with no scientific backing to support its claims. However, these people are also usually desperate for a pain relief and treatment of their arthritis, and often they will at least try the gel; a number of these people post their testimonies and claim they were pleasantly surprised at how effective Artrosilium was for them.

Of course, while Artrosilium is effective, it is still best to make changes in your life that can affect your arthritis directly. Simple things such as changing your diet to have more healthy food, to having more exercise, can go a long way in helping your get through your arthritis. Combined with the effective remedies found in Artrosilium, you could be well on your way to freedom from arthritis pain.

Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Methotrexate Side Effects

Methotrexate is one of the most common forms of treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis and is arguably the most important medicine used to treat RA today. It is the staple of RA treatment since it is effective at reducing disease activity for a large percentage of patients and most people with RA will go on this drug at some point or another.

Because of it is prescribed so frequently it is all too easy to forget that this is a serious toxic chemical. Let's take a quick look at 12 facts about Methotrexate so that you do not lose sight of what you are dealing with.

1. Methotrexate's brand names include Methoblastin, Trexall and Rheumatrex. It is called a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) and attmepts to decrease pain and swelling associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis. In doing so, Methotrexate can prevent damage to joints and therefore reduce the likelihood of disability. Symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis may improve within 3 weeks of starting treatment (which is precisely how long it took for me) but it may take 12 weeks or even 6 months of treatment for full benefit to be realized. Some patients do not see any benefit at all from Methotrexate.

2. Although Methotrexate was only approved for RA treatment in the US in 1988, it had already been used to treat cancer and psoriasis.

3. It still remains unclear exactly how methotrexate decreases arthritis activity. It is known that Methotrexate interferes with certain enzymes which play a role in immune system function. Methotrexate prohibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, thereby affecting the production of a type of folic acid, which is required for actively growing cells.

4. Typically, Methotrexate is taken once day a week for RA. The starting dose for most adults with rheumatoid arthritis is 7.5 to 10 mg and this dose can be increased to 20 to 25 mg each week. Around 25mg/week tends to be towards the upper oral limit according the to Rheumatologists that I have consulted with. Methotrexate is also available in an injectable form which can be self-injected by the patient.

5. Folic acid supplementation is required if you take methotrexate. Doctors vary in their approach with how this is prescribed. Sometimes the Folic acid is taken daily, in other cases it is taken in a larger dose 8 hours before and 8 hours after the weekly methotrexate pill.

6. Methotrexate can cause an abnormal functioning of the liver. Therefore, it is very important to have blood tests on a regular basis to test for liver functionality. At a minimum, doctors will ask for blood tests every 8 to 12 weeks. However, there is a greater benefit to the patient if the tests are done as frequently as every month to allow not just the liver health to be reviewed, but the inflammation levels of CRP and ESR as well to view the overall disease activity. (Part of my strategy for curing my RA was to be copied on the monthly blood test results and using the CRP and ESR to guide me as to how my holistic methods were performing. I strongly recommend you get your blood tested monthly for this benefit alone!)

7. Avoid alcohol whilst taking Methotrexate since alcohol increases the risk of liver damage significantly.

8. Besides the aformentioned side-effects on the liver, Methotrexate may also cause fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Personally, I found the fatigue on Methotrexate to be quite severe so that I felt tired most of the time. However, side effects may be dose-dependent and some patients have reported no side effects at all.

9. Methotrexate should not be taken if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant. Methotrexate can cause birth defects and/or complications during pregnancy. Do not fall pregnant whilst on methotrexate and for at least 3 months after you stop taking methotrexate. In fact, to be sure it is best to wait even longer (my Rheumatologist told me to wait 6 months - that stuff is not to be messed with!).

10. Some medications may alter methotrexate function. So, tell your doctor of all the medications you take (both prescription and over the counter). Also, NSAIDs, though often prescribed together with methotrexate, can affect the level of drug activity.

11. If it works at first, it doesn't mean that it will work forever. Treatment for RA often needs to be changed because the body can build resistance to a treatment. Some people find success with methotrexate at first and then later find that it stops working. Then, alternative drugs are tested or even a combination therapy is proposed where more than one drug is used at the same time.

12. Whilst on Methotrexate it is still possible to heal your body through natural methods. This was something that I discovered myself, by remaining on Methotrexate whilst I implemented my holistic experiments until I was able to reduce my inflammation to zero. So the great news about Methotrexate - is that unlike NSAID's and antibiotic drugs, it doesn't seem to interfere too heavily (if at all) on the delicate environment of your intestines (which is where the real cause of Rheumatoid Arhthritis really lies). This means that your determined efforts to get well naturally whilst on Methotrexate will not be undermined by the drug side effects. Finally, some good news huh?!

I hope you enjoyed this article and I'm sending you wonderful vibes of healing!

"The best doctor gives the least medicines" - Benjamin Franklin

An Overview - Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms, Causes and Prevention

There is a misconception that arthritis has been causing trouble for hundreds of years but experts say it is actually a rather modern disease. There is, for example, very little evidence of arthritic damage found in human remains before the year 1700 and even in Egyptian mummified remains.

These days, however, arthritis incidents are on the rise, affecting millions of people around the world. In the United States alone, there are more than 40 million Americans who suffer from some form of arthritis and if no measures are taken to control it, the number of people affected by it may continue to rise.

Who Gets Arthritis?

Arthritis is not a gender-specific disease and it can affect people regardless of their race, location or socio-economic level. Anybody can get arthritis but it often appears in adults and older people. Arthritis affects not just humans but animals as well. Dogs in their older years, for example, have an increased risk of canine rheumatoid arthritis while older cats may develop feline arthritis. When this happens, it is often necessary that animals are placed under veterinary care and symptoms treated with medications and therapy.

Symptoms Of Arthritis

There are over 100 different types of arthritis and they are often characterized by swelling, stiffness and pain in the joints. In rheumatoid arthritis, for example, white blood cells can develop rapidly in the synovial membrane found in the cartilage of the joints and result in pain and inflammation, making it difficult to move the joint. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage becomes damaged, which may be replaced by painful bone outgrowths.

Common Types Of Arthritis

The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Almost all types of arthritis are noninfectious although there are some which may be spread.

Lyme disease, an inflammatory form that can be transmitted by tick bites, is spread through bacterial infection. If it's untreated, it can lead to inflammation of the joints, specifically the knees. This form, like other infectious arthritis types, can be cured with antibiotics.

Preventing Arthritis

Some forms of arthritis, such as gout and infectious arthritis, can be prevented through diet and care. Gout, for example, is often the result of excessive intake of foods containing uric acid, which result in the deposition of crystals in the joints. These crystals cause the pain and inflammation associated with this form of arthritis.

Diet And Arthritis

Maintaining a good diet is doubly beneficial for arthritis because it helps shed extra pounds and eases the pressure off the joints which helps relieve the pain. Avoiding certain foods, such as high-fat meats and organ meats have also shown some promise in relieving inflammation.

Aside from having a healthy diet, using supplements may also help. Vitamins, minerals and other supplements such as fish oils may be helpful in ensuring that the body is healthy. Antioxidants may also be used to encourage cell repair.

Is There A Cure For Arthritis?

Unless what you have is an infectious form, don't expect for a cure because none has been discovered yet. However, it can be treated and symptoms can be managed. Treatment consists of medications and therapy that will reduce the symptoms of arthritis and allow the patient better joint mobility and relieve pain, regardless of which area of the body is affected.

Most medications are in the form of pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. Depending on the form of arthritis, drugs that retard the disease's progress may also be prescribed.

Treatment For Arthritis

Drugs are often prescribed to help relieve the symptoms often associated with arthritis, especially if they are severe. Physical therapy might also be used in order to improve mobility of the affected area, especially the knees, ankles, hands, neck and fingers.

Mild, low-impact exercises are preferable to heavy exercises because they are easier on the joints. Exercises such as yoga, tai chi and walking are beneficial. Water exercises are also an excellent option. For arthritis of the hands where the thumb and fingers are affected, special exercises may be performed regularly in order to maintain the hand's ability to flex.

An End To Pain?

Ending pain is often the goal of arthritis treatment. However, it doesn't have to be the only thing you should have in mind when dealing with arthritis. Effective treatment often goes beyond just providing relief when pain occurs. It is often a matter of addressing the problem at its roots and not just performing corrective measures when the problems begin. This is why it's important for patients to know that managing arthritis is not just about stopping pain but also preventing it.

Reflexology to Treat Everything From Arthritis to Urinary Tract Infections

Most of us think of feet and want to retch. While there's no arguing that feet are fantastic for getting us from one place to another and that they look great covered up by an expensive pair of Manolo Blahniks, that's about as far as we go. For most of us, feet are just unattractive, smelly things at the end of our legs which sport unpleasant brittle nails, hard callouses and tufts of unnecessary toe hair.

That said, there's a therapy becoming increasingly popular which concentrates almost entirely on the feet - and it's not just for those wacky foot fetishists. Reflexology is advertised as being for anyone who wants to cure a variety of ailments throughout the entire body using a simple massage that focuses primarily on the feet. Whether it works or not, of course, is a different story...

What Exactly Is Reflexology?

Reflexology, formerly known mainly as zone therapy, has been around for literally thousands of years - used by the ancient Egyptians and Chinese in particular. It is a type of bodywork that is predicated by the idea that we have certain so-called "reflex areas" on our feet, hands or even the ears (see below). These areas, or zones, neatly correspond to certain other parts of our body.

The body contains ten different zones. When a reflexologist applies pressure to the feet, this sends calming messages from those nerves to the central nervous system to create a feeling of peace and relieve tension. It is thought that the pathways through the points on the foot etc are connected to other body parts through the central nervous system, which is why it purportedly works.

Therefore, when we press or apply specialized pressure on those zones in the hand or feet, we are transmitting therapeutic action elsewhere. If you have a problem with your pituitary gland, for example, all you need to do is have your big toes massaged - they are the part of the foot which corresponds to that specific gland. Then presto - no more problem!

Modern-day reflexology has evolved to suit our contemporary needs thanks in part to Dr William H Fitzgerald, an ear, nose and throat man, and Dr Edwin Bowers, who introduced "zone therapy" in 1915. They theorized that applying pressure to some body parts could have anesthetic results on other body parts.

Their work was carried on and improved by Eunice Ingham, a physiotherapist and nurse who transformed zone therapy into reflexology in the 1930s. She theorized that the most sensitive parts of the body as far as zone therapy were the feet, and contrived reflexology charts mapping out the body in relation to our little footsies (and tootsies).

Ear Reflexology

Believe it or not, some people now practice what is known as ear reflexology, or "auricular therapy". There are points on the ears which are thought to correspond to the heart, according to TCM, or traditional Chinese medicine, and it is thought that rubbing parts of the ear will thus relieve anxiety, and promote tranquility and calm. Rubbing other ear parts will have effects on other parts of the body.

Ears as a window to health have fascinated us for centuries - indeed, millennia. It is reported that in 400 BC people used to burn parts of their ears to relieve back pain, and that auricular acupuncture took off as early as 400 AD. A French doctor called Dr Paul Nogier reportedly worked out the modern-day reflux cartography of ear therapy, which is used today, in the 1950s after treating patients who had suffered ear burns in an attempt to treat other injuries.

The best part is that now you can practice therapeutic ear massage yourself, simply by grasping your ear between your thumb and forefingers and rubbing them gently together. For maximum effect it's recommended that a qualified ear reflexologist shows you the ropes first. Just make sure you've used a Q-tip in the last year or two to avoid embarrassment. Happy rubbing!

Does Reflexology Really Work?

One of the more popular alternative treatments, reflexology has countless proponents who say it has far-reaching and long-lasting health benefits. Reflexologists claim their therapy can help everything from arthritis (because they say it can help stimulate the adrenal glands and reduce dependence on cortisone) to urinary tract infections (by working the bladder and kidney points located on the bottom of your foot).

However, its critics say that it's a load of old hokum, and that the only health benefit is one anybody would get after spending time in a tranquil, quiet room having a (hopefully) pleasant massage. Dr Stephen Barrett MD, for example, has written an article about reflexology in QuackWatch, where he recounts several reflexology sessions her personally undertook to ascertain their effect.

During one session, a reflexologist told him that he could cure his severe shoulder pain, which had already been approved for major surgery, in just a few meetings. "His 'treatment,' which lasted about 10 minutes, consisted of massaging the foot and from time to time, pressing hard on the ball of my foot, a procedure that was quite painful," Dr Barrett wrote. "The 'treatment,' of course, did absolutely nothing to help my shoulder. A few months later, I had the surgery, which cured the problem immediately and permanently."

Reflexology should not be intended as a substitute for conventional medicine, but if it can make you feel better and you actually enjoy the experience it might be worth a whirl. However, you should consult your doctor before trying out any alternative treatment, even one that may appear seemingly innocuous.

If you have a foot fracture, open wound in the foot or active gout in the foot, you should avoid this therapy. Ditto for people with current thrombosis or embolism. If you are in the early stages of pregnancy tell your reflexologist so he or she can adjust the treatment accordingly. Talk to your doctor first if you have vascular conditions of the foot or leg.

It goes without saying that a suspension of disbelief is important if you are undertaking any alternative therapy, and that keeping an open mind is vital. Reflexologists are adamant that they themselves are not healers; instead, they are participants helping the body to heal itself. Don't expect reflexology to cure you of any major health conditions, but it might just help alleviate minor foot pain. Then again, it might just be another (rather costly) pain in the ass...

Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment - What Should You Expect?

Psoriatic arthritis treatment drugs come in several categories. There are the nonsteroidal drugs that combat inflammation, commonly known as NSAIDs. There are the anti-rheumatic drugs that modify the disease, commonly known as DMARDs, and there's also the biologics made from animal or human proteins. In addition to these, there are a number of natural, or alternative remedies that have known success in some people.

Psoriasis is a skin disease that affects some 2 percent of the population. It is a chronic condition having little impact for those only slightly affected, and a considerable social and domestic impact for those heavily affected. Not all psoriasis sufferers require psoriatic arthritis treatment as the condition only affects some 10 to 30 percent of the group as a whole.

The disease develops at different rates for different people. If you already have skin psoriasis, and you also have joint pain, especially if the two coincide on the same joint, then you should inform your physician as soon as possible, for you may have developed psoriatic arthritis and require treatment.

Treatment for this condition is aimed at reducing the pain and the associated swelling. It also aims to maintain fluid and natural movement in the joints, which in turn helps to prevent any further damage. The treatment recommended by your doctor will depend on the severity of the condition, your reaction to the treatment, and the type of psoriatic arthritis that you have.

French physician, Baron Jean Louis Alibert, was the first to describe psoriatic arthritis. It took almost 140 years, however, to be classified as an particular arthritic disease in its own right. Psoriatic arthritis treatment can sometimes be delayed because the condition is wrongly diagnosed as being gout. It is important, however, that the correct form of arthritis is diagnosed as the necessary treatments differ substantially.

Goji Berries Help Provide Relief For Arthritis Sufferers

Tibetan Goji berries have been around for many years. They have become known for having the most nutrients, of any fruit in the world. With their abundance of antioxidants, the health benefits of Goji berries seem endless. From preventing heart disease and diabetes, to improving your skin, Goji berries also help provide relief to arthritis sufferers.

Arthritis is one of most painful and debilitating diseases. Though, more common in the elderly, arthritis strikes people of all ages, including children. Arthritis is when your joints become inflamed, causing a lot of pain and discomfort. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis also known as degenerative joint disease. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage that serves as a cushion between the joints of the bones wears away causing bone against bone. Swelling usually occurs and this can be very painful. Osteoarthritis is usually due to aging, but can be caused by an injury, being overweight, and stressing the joints.

Studies have shown that antioxidants can help in the fight against the free radicals, responsible for the inflammation in arthritis. The free radical, superoxide anion, is the inflammation factor in arthritis, and our body produces the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) to help neutralize this free radical. In some cases of arthritis, the production of superoxide anion is greater than what the body can handle, and is unable to produce enough of the SOD enzyme to protect against the inflammation of the joints.

Foods with high levels of antioxidants are key to fighting free radicals, and eating Goji berries, known for the high levels of antioxidants, help produce the anti-inflammatory enzyme SOD therefore, reducing the inflammation and pain. SOD also plays major role in protecting the body against other diseases. This is most powerful natural free radical fighting antioxidant the body has.

Eating a natural healthy diet is beneficial to everybody. Including Goji berries in your daily diet will help your body maintain its natural defense against free radicals.

Omega-3 and Arthritis

We've all heard of it, and seen it prominently displayed as being present in certain brands of margarine and even milk and eggs, but what is omega 3?

Omega 3 is good for treating many conditions, from heart disease to asthma and even some forms of cancer. It is also an excellent natural defence against certain types of inflammatory arthritis.

This is because omega 3 contains essential fatty acids (EFA's). The most important EFA's are called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are the building blocks that our body uses to produce resolvins. The resolvins work in the blood to increase the production of proteins that have anti-inflammatory properties and decrease the ones that promote inflammation.

We cannot produce resolvins ourselves and can only get them through eating fish or other items containing omega 3. The best sources of omega 3 are found in fish, and salmon, mackerel and tuna are excellent sources. Interestingly fish do not naturally produce omega 3. It is a by-product of eating algae.

This means that there is the potential to introduce omega 3 into the vegetarian diet. The best sources of vegetarian omega 3 are plant oils especially flaxseed oil, nuts and seeds such as walnuts and pumpkin seeds and dark green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach. The omega 3 from vegetarian sources is not as effective as that found in fish oil and an omega 3 supplement may need to be taken too.

Unfortunately not every form of arthritis is suitably treated with omega 3, but if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) the following information may be of interest to you.

Research conducted by Dr. Gail Darlington of the Epsom General Hospital and Dr. Trevor Stone of the University of Glasgow and at the Albany Medical College has shown that rheumatoid arthritis sufferers taking regular omega 3 supplements were having less joint pain and morning stiffness with some users being able to reduce or stop taking NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) altogether.

Research at Bristol University found that osteoarthritis sufferers taking omega 3 have a reduced rate of pain. This is because omega 3 slows down the loss of collagen, the protein responsible for cartilage health. When cartilage is lost the bones rub together and cause pain.

In Belfast studies into systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and omega 3 found that disease activity was significantly reduced in those taking omega 3 supplements.

As well as being found naturally in fish, seeds, plant oils, nuts and dark green vegetables, omega 3 can be bought as supplements from health food stores or chemists.

Ensure that your source of supplements is reliable as cheap and poor sources may contain traces of mercury, arsenic, cadmium or lead. Also ensure that EPA and DHA are present as omega 3 containing ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) has to be converted within the body to produce EPA and DHA and is not as effective.

Do not confuse omega 3 fish oils with fish liver oil. They are totally different and have different properties. It is also important before taking any supplements to ask your GP if it is safe to do so.

Joint Pain - A Symptom Of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the common infections that have negative effects on the joints of the body, as it causes the joint's cartilage to break down over a period of time. In the case of osteoarthritis, the cartilage is usually torn. The major symptom of this disease is joint pain. Osteoarthritis often affects the back, knees, fingers, hips, neck and toes. The nature of pain associated with osteoarthritis could be mild, moderate or severe. Millions of people are victims of osteoarthritis and its associated joint pains due to age related-wear-and -tear. At the early stage of osteoarthritis, the symptom of may be indistinct and then develop gradually. Yet most people may not even experience the early symptoms at all.

Joint pain cause by osteoarthritis can lead to difficulties in moving as well as disability. Unfortunately, there is no definite cure for osteoarthritis but it is possible to delay or reduce joint injuries and complications of disease with proper exercises, adequate rest and physical therapy. This article does not support the ideal of medication and surgery for the treatment of osteoarthritis, because most of the prescribed medications for joint pain resulting from osteoarthritis are not only very expensive but they end up hiding the pain. Even if the brain does not recognize the pain, it is still there and continues to damage and disfigure the joint. But with nutrition, rest, natural therapy and most importantly simple exercises, you can treat osteoarthritis and at the same time save hundreds of dollars.

Treatment of osteoarthritis.

Body flush: juice fasting and adequate water intake will help to flush out alkaline in your body system, thereby reducing your chances of suffering from osteoarthritis and its associated pains. As water drains the impurities and toxins in your body, the symptoms of osteoarthritis will naturally begin to disappear. Therefore, you are advised to take 10-12 glasses of water daily. Also liquids like soda, tea, coffee and all sorts of ready-made juices with high content of sugar and flavor should be strictly avoided, as they will not only worsen your health problems but they can also lead to severe joint pain.

Nutrition: Nutrition is one of the major factors that can determine whether you will be able to treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis or not. Fresh and raw foods with little or no processed foods will be of great help in relieving pains associated with osteoarthritis. Consumption of more water-soluble fiber like fresh foods and raw vegetables are also recommended for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Processed foods, fast foods and foods with high sugar content must be avoided if you really want to be free from joint pain that comes from osteoarthritis.

Exercise: exercise is the most effective way of treating osteoarthritis. It will assist in re-building your muscle mass and body tissue, and as well increase your immune system helping your body get rid of the free radicals in your joint. The following simple exercises are very relevant in the treatment of osteoarthritis and its associated pains; swimming and water exercise, squatting exercise, walking and stationary bike.

Joint pain is one of the symptoms of osteoarthritis. This pain can cause discomfort and disability if not properly taken care of. But with simple exercises like swimming and water exercises, squatting exercises etc, you can effectively treat osteoarthritis and its associated pains.

Arthritis Treatment: Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Now

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic, progressive, autoimmune disorder that affects, roughly, two million Americans. While it preferentially attacks joints, it may affect other organ systems. These other areas include the lungs, heart, peripheral nervous system, skin, bone marrow, and eyes.

If Rheumatoid arthritis is suspected, a patient should be referred to a rheumatologist (arthritis specialist) as soon as possible. The current goal of Rheumatoid arthritis therapy is to treat and control disease before any joint damage has occurred. A rheumatologist can help by making the diagnosis and initiating disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) to slow down disease as soon as possible.

One new development in establishing the early diagnosis is the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/ European League Against Rheumatism Classification Criteria that were developed to identify patients earlier in the course of disease, so that correct DMARD therapy can be initiated quickly. These criteria use a point system that is weighted toward the number of joints that are inflamed. A total of 6 points or more is consistent with a diagnosis of Rheumatoid arthritis, and up to 5 points can come from the joint exam. Other parts of the criteria from which points are tallied up include elevated blood markers of inflammation, symptoms lasting longer than 6 weeks, and positive blood tests for either rheumatoid factor or anti-CCP. What is important to realize is the primary factor that establishes the diagnosis is the presence of inflamed joints.

Once the diagnosis is established, aggressive treatment with DMARDS should be started. These DMARDS are usually a combination of standard "old school" DMARDS such as methotrexate along with "new school" DMARDS, called biologics. These latter medicines are proteins that are used to specifically target the immune abnormalities that characterize rheumatoid arthritis.

Using this approach, it is possible to get the majority of Rheumatoid arthritis patients, seen early, into remission. While remission is a target that rheumatologists shoot for, the definition of remission varies depending on the remission-defining tool used. Nonetheless, they all have similar characteristics. There people who don't respond. These patients are referred to as "non-responders."

A non-responder is a patient with persistent disease despite current therapy. This may show up as persistent joint inflammation, elevated blood markers of systemic inflammation, or declining function.

A non-responder can be either primary... not responding right out of the chute, or secondary meaning they respond early on but then lose their response over time.

In either case, a switch in treatment is needed in order to prevent further functional decline and permanent joint damage.

Joint Pain Relief For the Obese

How much do you know about rheumatism?

You probably know it's related to pain in the joints. Yes, joints are only one affected area. Therefore, rheumatism is a broad term that also includes inflammation of bones, muscles, tendons and even internal organs. But let's focus only on joint pain with you here.

What Causes Joint Pain?

The two most common causes of joint pain are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Other factors can be sprain, fracture, gout in the big toes, septic arthritis or polyarthritis.

Let's take a closer look at osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA)

It's a condition where spurs grow and cartilage degenerates in the joints, leading to joint pain. It's also known as "wear-and-tear" arthritis. Some symptoms are:

-- The stiffness in the joints disappears within 30 minutes from the time the patient wakes up but aggravates later in the day after repetitive use or after a prolonged inactivity.

-- Starts with one joint.

-- Often happens in large joints or joints related to knee and hip.

-- An affected joint tends to look a little larger than normal. This is due to abnormal growth of the bone next to damaged cartilage.

-- More common than rheumatoid arthritis.

-- Slow and gradual pain.

-- Usually affects older people.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

This is an autoimmune disorder due to the malfunction of certain immune cells in the patient's body which attacks the joints. Hence, he'll encounter the following symptoms:

-- Morning stiffness lasts more than 30 minutes.

-- Warmth, swelling and pain often begins with the small joints of hands and wrists near the palm or the small joints of toes.

-- Affected joints are usually symmetrical such as the same joints on both hands.

-- Can also trigger fever, fatigue, depression, loss of appetite, dry eyes and chest pain.

-- Can lead to joint deformities.

How does Obesity Worsen the Condition?

Although doctors have yet to prove if obesity causes rheumatism, they believe excess weight certainly doesn't help the patients. In fact, they believe obesity will increase the risk of both OA and RA.

That's because the excess weight will add more pressure on the inflamed joints, aggravating the pain, especially in the affected joint areas around knees, spinal cord and hip.

Currently, there are no cures for OA and RA but the treatments can help to relieve pain and improve joint movement so that patients can still go about their daily tasks.

The treatment often comes as a program - medications, physical and occupational therapy, reduction of joint stress and sometimes surgery. But if a patient is also obese, weight loss will inevitably become part of the program.

Right Exercise can Help Obese OA / RA Patient

1. Flexibility exercises help to maintain or improve the flexibility in affected joints and surrounding muscles. This contributes to better posture, reduced risk of injuries and improved function.

2. Strengthening exercises are more vigorous to work muscles a bit harder. Stronger muscles can better support the joints and cushion the shock impact to the painful joint. They also assist in better function and reduce bone loss due to inactivity, inflammatory arthritis and use of certain medications such as corticosteroids.

3. Aerobic exercises such as walking and swimming are good for weight control as they work off the excess fats and replace with useful muscles. For even better fat-burning results, you can engage in anaerobic exercises like strength training. But you must consult your doctor and make sure to have a certified trainer to guide you along such high-intensity exercises that can cause injuries pretty easily.

4. Body awareness exercises improve posture, balance, joint position awareness, coordination and relaxation. This is especially important as the patient's sense of balance and coordination may be impaired due to the illness.

Natural Arthritis Diet for Pain Relief

Stay away from acidic stuff like coffee, tea, sugar and alcohol. You should also cut down on intake of meat and seafood since these are high in cholesterol, saturated fats, salt and toxins. For best results, I suggest you include these natural vegetarian foods as a significant part of your diet:

a) Fruits - avocado

b) Vegetables - spirulina, wheat grass products, carrots, seaweeds, sprouts

c) Whole grains - millet, wheat, brown rice, barley and oats

d) Nuts - pecans

e) Soy and seeds - flaxseed, pumpkin and sesame

This natural diet serves to help you maintain a healthy weight. According to the Arthritis Foundation, for every pound of weight lost, there is a four-pound reduction in the load exerted on the knee for each step taken. Simply put, the less heavy you are, the less pain you suffer.

Last but not least, whether you're suffering from rheumatism or not, sticking to a healthy diet and regular exercise regime are always essential.

Arthritis and Dogs

Did you know that one out of five adult pets in the United States
suffer from one form or another of arthritis?

We have approximately 80 million cats and dogs living in our homes and considering that number we have a great many suffering pets. Pets that have no real way of letting us know that they hurt.

This knowledge is actually "food for thought" when it comes to changes in behavior patterns of our senior pets.

Pain certainly causes our behavior to change in many ways; we get grumpy, snarl, lash out at others and just plain complain.

Our pets cannot talk, but some do actually change their behavior and this is when "knowing your pet" is important. By knowing your pet, it is possible to tell if only by observation that something is amiss and a possible trip to the vet is necessary.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is joint inflammation and degeneration. It is a general term for abnormal changes in a joint.

Many things can cause arthritis such as; an infection that can cause tissue destruction, congenital defects, stress and trauma and even a lack of certain nutrients in a pet's diet.

Some researchers feel it is a hereditary disposition, or it can be attributed to aging, excessive weight and genetic abnormalities that produce the cartilage.

Are there different types of arthritis?

There are several types of arthritis caused by different types of situations:

Traumatic arthritis shows up as a swelling or lameness usually caused by an accident or fall and may require surgery,

Rheumatoid arthritis is caused when your pet's immune system attacks the joint or joints. The cause of this is still unknown.

Hypertrophic arthritis is caused by the formation of bone spurs that grow causing the joints to not move smoothly. The joints feel like they are being poked by something sharp. It is very painful to both dogs and humans. It is usually caused by a trauma to the joint or joints.

Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) is the most common form of arthritis, which is the breakdown in the cartilage cushion in the joints. This can cause intermittent pain for the pet. It is a slow progressive disease.

Hip dysplasia is a form of osteoarthritis. Hip dysplasia is the abnormal development of the hips, which results in an increasing amount of looseness in the hip joint. Dogs can suffer from degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) that is not caused by hip dysplasia or they can suffer with it because they have hip dysplasia.

These are just a few of the different forms of arthritis that exist.

What are some of the subtle symptoms to look for:

In smaller dogs, a whimper or growl when picked up or handled.

A lack of motivation to move.

Stiffness when walking, getting up or down.

Avoiding getting up on the bed, couch, chair or climbing stairs.

Hiding or disappearing out of sight.

Whining or crying for what appears to be no reason at all.

Changes in behavior patterns.

Sleeping more than usual.

What are some of the contributing causes?
Overweight: One of the major causes of degenerative joint disease (DJD) is a dog being overweight. The excessive weight puts a great deal of stress on the joints. This is especially true if your dog is predisposed to hip dysplasia or has the problem. Keeping your dog's weight at what is normal for its breed is important, along with making certain your dog is getting all the proper nutrients its body requires.

Proper exercise: If your dog is predisposed to hip dysplasia limit its exercise to long walks, swimming, and very short runs. Do not put excess pressure on your dog's limbs.

The same is true with puppies, do not exercise your young puppy by making it jump or do any exercise that puts stress on its young bones. If you do, the dog may pay for it, as it grows older with DJD.

Agility training should be done for short periods of time and with a warm up period before starting the exercises.

Diet: It may be hard to believe, but diet plays an important part in a possible avoidance of arthritis, not only in our pets, but for us also. A diet that is rich in the Omega 3 fatty acids plays an extremely important part in warding off some causes of arthritis. There are substances that all mammals (pets and people) need to make their bodies function properly, that are not manufactured by the body and the Omega 3 fatty acids are needed to carry out this job. So be certain that your pet gets an ample supply either from the food it eats or from a good supplement.

Treatment: Before taking any steps in treating your pet, always consult your animal care practitioner. Be wary of over the counter adult human treatments, as not all can be used on dogs.

Cats can suffer from arthritis as well as dogs. Cats require special consideration as their physical makeup requires only certain types of medication. Do not give a cat any aspirin or other types of over the counter drugs.

There are nutritional supplements on the market made especially for cats and dogs that can be given on a daily basis that will help maintain a healthy joint system from young to senior cats and dogs.

It is said that liquid products are better than pills as the liquid gets into the blood stream faster to do its work. That is fine if you can get your pet to cooperate and your pet is willing to take the dose without waste. For most of us pills seem to be easier, with the exception of cats - I find an eyedropper and liquid easier here.

Before doing any "self prescribed" medicating for your pet, always get the advice of your pet's vet or animal care practitioner.

One of the first things to consider when your pet starts showing signs of arthritis is to begin giving a supplement of glucosamine and chondroitin. This supplement helps, by not only helping to reduce symptoms, but helps to rebuild the cartilage and restore fluid. There are many brands on the market, find one that also has MSM in it. You may have to try several before you find the right one for your pet.

Some say eliminating grains from a dog's diet helps enough, that nothing more needs to be done. While others claim white potatoes, tomatoes, egg plant and peppers aggravate an arthritic condition.

There are many anti-inflammatory supplements on the market with the omega 3 fish oils being a leading contender. Be certain not to use "liver oil," as that is very high in vitamins A and D. If you decide to use the fish oils be certain to also give your pet vitamin E as the fish oils deplete vitamin E from the body.

Acupuncture and chiropractic treatments also work in some cases with pets.

Warmth is also an added plus, sleeping on concrete or a cold floor will only add to your dog's misery. There are many insulated dog beds on the market and some that can be heated. Just be certain the cords cannot be chewed.

Dogs with arthritis can live long and healthy lives with a little help from their friends and as a dog owner you owe it to your pet to be as helpful as you can be.

Worries Over New Arthritis 'Smart Drug' Monthly Injection

While the media currently feeds a frenzy of excitement regarding the new arthritis gene therapy drug known as Tocilizumab, Hundreds of thousands of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers are offered new hope in beating there debilitating condition.

The new drug is being heralded as a mile stone in rheumatoid arthritis treatment following a trial in which nearly half of patients on the medication found their condition did not get any worse. Tocilizumab, which will be sold under the brand name 'Actemra' works in conjunction with an existing treatment, methotrexate, and is administered monthly in hospital.

In the trial, taking methotrexate on its own only stopped symptoms in eight per cent of patients.Combined with Tocilizumab, 47 per cent of patients saw their condition halted. The drug is still under review in the UK by Nice ( National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) but is it expected to gain its UK marketing license in January 2009.

Nice caused some controversy recently by ruling that rheumatoid arthritis sufferers could not switch from one form of a pain relieving drug to another if the initial treatment did not work. There are fears that Tocilizumab - which could cost up to £10,000 per annum - may not become available on the NHS and if it does become available will it be available to the masses and not just the few.

Known side effects include diarrhea thalamic infarction, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, vomiting, upper respiratory tract inflammation, ligament rupture, hypoaesthesia, headache, cholelithiasis. gastrointestinal bleeding, gastroenteritis, bronchitis, Pneumonia and a potentially serious bacterial skin infection called cellulitis. Concerns have also been expressed in regard of cholesterol levels apparently Tocilizumab is thought to raise LDL, which is bad cholesterol, & could put patients at risk of heart attack or stroke.

Study participants who took Tocilizumab also had a higher risk of serious infections compared to study participants who were treated with methotrexate alone or with a combination of a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug and a placebo.

Reported problems with Tocilizumab in Japan,

Reported Tocilizumab problem on Oct 25, 2005. Male patient, 34 years of age, was treated with Tocilizumab. After the drug was administered, patient experienced the following problems/side effects: acidosis, alpha haemolytic streptococcal infection, bacteraemia, brain abscess, candidiasis, cerebral hemorrhage, dehydration, depressed level of consciousness, disseminated tuberculosis.

Dosage: unknown.
During the same period the patient was treated with Klaricid, Iscotin, Ethambutol, Hydrochloride, Rifadin & Pyrazinamide, following the medication the patient was hospitalized. Patient unfortunately died on 02/19/2006.

Another reported Tocilizumab problem was reported by a Physician from Japan on Nov 30, 2005. a female patient, 53 years old, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and was treated with Tocilizumab. After the drug was administered the patient in question experienced the following side effects: condition aggravated, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, thalamic infarction.

Tocilizumab dosage: unknown

During the same period the patient was treated with Methotrexate, Predonine, Diclofenac, Misoprostol, Nifedipine, Arotinolol, The patient was hospitalized but later recovered.

These are just a couple of incidents which have been reported, however many more can be found if you Google Tocilizumab, of course, as with any medication, problems will exist due to their toxicity. Tocilizumab may be an excellent treatment for some, but perhaps not so for others.

Treatment For Arthritis In Fingers

Arthritis in fingers is, unfortunately, an all too common condition. As we age, arthritic problems in numerous joints can develop. When the pain is felt in the hands, it can have a major impact on the way we lead our lives, the swelling and discomfort that is swells up can be immense. If not treated, the condition can lead to deformed bones, and a loss of independence.

If you suspect that you have an arthritic problem in the hands, it is essential to seek a medical evaluation at the earliest opportunity. Your local family doctor should be able to diagnose whether the condition is arthritis, this may involve X-rays and blood tests to evaluate the severity of the problem and the possible course of treatment.

There are a number of anti-inflammatory drugs that can be prescribed to help lessen the pain and discomfort that is felt. These drugs address the symptoms of the ailment rather than removing the problem in its entirety.

It is believed that diet can play an important role in reducing the level of pain caused by this condition. Remove fatty foods and junk food from your meals and increase your consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. This change in diet will allow your body to get the vitamins and minerals it need to function properly.

Another option is to undergo a course of steroid injections. Steroids can provide long lasting relief from pain, but only when given repeatedly. There is also the risk of side effects from the injections, such as a general malaise and a feeling of irritability.

In severe cases surgery and splinting may be the best course of action to consider. Depending upon the extent of the arthritis in fingers, it can be possible to undergo a procedure where damaged tissue is cut away to allow for increased mobility. It may also be possible to undergo joint replacement. Splinting helps to support the damaged fingers, so that less stress is caused to the joint.

Knee Pain and Arthritis: You Don't Have to Suffer Anymore

I was like you: years ago I started having knee pain; it worsened with time to the point that:

• I could no longer walk normally; I found myself limping often and I was no longer able to move my right knee as I used to: it seemed to have lost much of it earlier flexibility. I remember so vividly how I was in Vegas with my partner and, whilst having a fantastic time as we always did there, all I could think of was my knee pain; I was limping so severely that I looked as if I was walking with a massive cast all over my right leg. The pain was, needless to say, excruciating.


• I could no longer sleep well because my knee pain was constant; lying in bed brought no relief and there was not one single position I could assume which would even remotely relieve me of some pain.

I tried with all sorts of painkillers but they never worked for me: the pain would never go away. Then, one day, as I was struggling to move around in my garden, I noticed that my right knee was now dramatically swollen: it looked and felt as if water had formed around it, under the skin. I was scared; it was the day when I envisaged that, sooner or later, I would have to function with the help of walking aids, at the very least and, in the worst case scenario, with a wheelchair.

I am a self-taught type of person and I always want to find out my options before I take a course of action. I also tend to favor natural or 'healthy' ways to achieve perfect health or recover from sickness. Thus, I began researching supplements and other natural ways to stop my disabling knee pain and arthritis.

There are many natural supplements which can help against knee pain and knee inflammation (including knee swelling): these include, above all, meadowsweet, which is supposed to help against pain and inflammation in any affected area of your body; at the same time, it's a powerful astringent (it tightens tissues) and has fever-reducing properties; finally, it also helps your body eliminate all excess fluid, which means it'll contribute to relieving your joint from the liquid formation all around it which may cause swelling (it certainly did in my case).

Other supplements include willow bark, butterbur, St John's wort and Jamaican dogwood.

I take omega 3 and Evening Primrose oil, as well as Vitamin D and calcium as a general preventative measure for the future; however, I also concentrate on ingesting a lot of inflammation-reducing foods and inflammation-reducing supplements and herbs.

Moreover, when I was at my worst (just after my horrible experience whilst I was in Las Vegas) I started homeopathic treatments to help my body 'help itself' and treat the 'cause' of what made it so vulnerable to knee degeneration.

Today I have regained complete mobility of my knee; I walk, I hike, I go to the gym, I walk up and down stairs, I sleep like a log and I do absolutely anything and everything I used to do when I was a teenager.

This could be you too.

Can Arthritis Fish Oil Supplementation Help With Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Someone once said if you haven't experienced arthritis you simply aren't living life to its fullest. Well at least the anonymous author got a weekend pass from whatever mental institution he was in. Arthritis and particularly rheumatoid arthritis can be quite painful and even debilitating and anyone who has it wishes they would have taken steps to avoid it or at least reduce its impact. But what about arthritis fish oil supplementation. Could it help? Could arthritis fish oil supplementation be used in addition to my current medications? What is the suggested amount of arthritis fish oil supplementation required? These are both questions we will strive to answer but first let's briefly talk a little about arthritis.

Arthritis is generally defined as inflammation of a joint, which causes localized pain, swelling, and stiffness. The most common type is osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, which involves changes in the joint cartilage as a result of aging or use. Rheumatoid arthritis on the other hand is an autoimmune disease which is a more serious, systemic form of arthritis, which may affect the heart, lungs, and eyes, as well as the joints. The suspected cause is a yet unidentified virus that stimulates the immune system to wreak havoc.

You are probably saying would you please get on with it! My joints hurt and I would like to know whether arthritis fish oil supplementation could help. OK, I hear you!

The vast majority of research seems to focused on the use of omega 3 fatty acid supplementation. This includes fish oil which is the highest source of the two primary omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. A summary of the results concluded that arthritis fish oil supplementation seems to reduce tenderness, decrease morning stiffness, and allow for a reduction in the amount of medication needed for people with both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The daily dose used in the studies ranged from 1000 to 2000 mg of DHA/EPA per day. This is higher than the 900 mg number suggested by the AMA and the NIH. So consult your doctor first before taking the big leap to high dose arthritis fish oil supplementation.

Additionally, there seems to be a correlation between the imbalance of omega 3 and omega 6 in those with inflammatory disorders such as osteoarthritis. In fact, several test tube studies of cartilage containing cells have found that omega 3 fatty acids decrease inflammation and reduce the activity of enzymes that destroy cartilage. Omega 6 causes inflammation and is found in large amounts in red meat.

In summary, there seems to be good evidence that arthritis fish oil supplementation can benefit those with arthritic conditions by reducing overall inflammation. One of the benefits of this natural form of supplementation is that it can be combined with anti inflammatory drugs as well as most other arthritis medications.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of fish oil or learn more about a high quality DHA fish oil worth considering click here.

Osteoarthritis - Signs and Symptoms

Osteoarthritis is a common condition affecting the joints that can affect mobility and quality of life. It can limit daily function such as ability to squat down or carry heavy objects.

This article reviews the signs and symptoms used to diagnose osteoarthritis.

It is a very common; 8.5 million people in the UK have osteoarthritis (Arthritis Care, UK 2002).

Osteoarthritis may first appear between ages 30 and 40, and is present in almost everyone by age 70.

There are several symptoms associated with arthritis and can include:

- Morning stiffness of stiffness after periods of inactivity
- Achy joints
- Pain
- Restriction range of motion/ impaired mobility
- Crepitus or grinding sound on movement

Symptoms are most likely felt in large weight-bearing joints in one or more sites especially the hip, knee, spine and hand.

Osteoarthritis can develop as we age or from other factors, such as injury or being overweight.

It is important that if you experience these symptoms that you consult a suitably qualified health professional for an assessment and diagnosis.

Most people with arthritis or degenerative joint pain have already been to their doctor to get it diagnosed.
In my experience there are some times when you MUST see your physician about your joint pain.

Here is my advice, if you have any of the following:

- joint pain that is causing persistent pins and needles or numbness
- spinal pain with weakness in your arms or legs, pins and needles, or loss of control of bladder and bowel (you need to see your doctor immediately for this one)
- undiagnosed trauma or significant injury that has not been assessed
- joints that lock regularly or give way on you (especially knees)
- unexplained weight loss
- constant unremitting night pain
- unable to weight bear through the joint
- undiagnosed joint pain for more than 2 weeks

Then you MUST consult your physician. Not all joint pain is from arthritis, and an accurate diagnosis is very important.

Your health professional will ask a series of questions to learn more about the symptoms then do an objective assessment.

On examination there may be swelling around the joint, heat, deformity, and pain on manual joint compression.

This could be confirmed by X-ray imaging where your health professional could see any of the following:

- narrowing of the joint space
- bony spurs or osteophytes
- alignment changes of the joint

It is important to know that signs follow symptoms and that in early arthritis you may experience some symptoms of osteoarthritis before the signs. As the condition develops it is more pronounced on X-ray imaging. Your health professional will look at the total clinical picture for the diagnosis.

Once you have received a diagnosis it is important to establish a systemised management plan that you can easily integrate in to your life to proactively manage your osteoarthritis. The earlier and more comprehensive your plan is in the beginning the better for your overall outcome.

Top 5 Tips To Prevent Osteoarthritis

The most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis results in damage due to wear and tear on the cartilage of your bones. Healthy cartilage is smooth which allows your joints to move freely and tough, to act as a shock absorber between your bones. But in osteoarthritis, the cartilage breaks down in slow stages:

1. It becomes soft, frayed, and less elastic.

2. Large sections wear away completely, letting the ends of bones rub together.

3. As a result, your bone ends thicken, and the joints may change shape, grow spurs (bony growths), and develop fluid-filled cysts.

No one knows for sure what causes osteoarthritis or even if it is actually age-related, but heredity, obesity, injury, and overuse all appear to play roles in osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, but it is mostly found in the knees, spine, fingers, big toes, and hips. Men are especially likely to suffer from osteoarthritis of the hip.

Here are the helpful tips to lower your risk of developing osteoarthritis:

1. Exercise

It can be your best tool against osteoarthritis because exercise strengthens your muscles and works to keep your joints flexible. Exercise can also help you to maintain a healthy weight (or lose weight if necessary). Obesity is often considered a factor in some types of arthritis. However, be sensible: Don't overdo high-impact aerobics such as running. And if a particular joint (for example, those in your knees, ankles, and feet) starts to suffer from overuse, change your exercise regimen. Try low-impact exercises such as walking and swimming and stretching exercises to loosen your joints, increase your range of motion, strengthen your muscles, and more important, relieve arthritis pain.

2. Protect your knees against injury during sports, starting in your teens

Wear protective gear such as knee and elbow pads when playing contact sports or other, riskier sports such as in-line skating.

3. Sit straight and don't slump

Your mother was right! Good posture, whether sitting or standing, can help reduce the pressure on the joints, especially those in your spine.

4. Learn to perform your job without stressing your joints

If your job requires repetitive movement (such as typing) or movement that stresses your joints, be sure to vary your activities and working position as much as possible.

5. Safety First

Some safety concerns that may help to prevent osteoarthritis in your daily life, for example, wear a seat belt to prevent injury to your knees (and other body parts) in case of a car accident.

Natural Relief From the Pain of Arthritis

Glutathione - How it Provides Natural Arthritis Pain Relief

There is so much information in the internet about natural arthritis pain relief. But, like anything else, one must always be aware in what is read and ensure to look at any types of claims or hype in regards to the "newest wonder pill" to hit the market. In this information, we will take a closer look at the right way to relieve arthritis pain.

So what is arthritis and what are some of the causes and effects?

Did you know that it's not confined to one simple joint disease? It is an umbrella term that encompasses more than 100 different types of joint disorders.

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis which usually affects the body's weight-bearing joints.

Other common types of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis and gout.

The medical term arthritis is formed by the combination of the words arthron and itis. Arthron is Greek for joint while 'itis' is Greek for inflammation. Thus, arthritis literally translates to joint inflammation in English.

This also explains why joint inflammation is one of the most common symptoms of arthritis.

Arthritis affects the musculoskeletal system, particularly the joints as its name suggests. In order to understand this joint disease, it is important to know how joints work.

Exercise as Part of Pain Relief

Apart from the standard medicine, proper eating and relaxation, health care professionals also suggest arthritis workout routines together with natural arthritis pain relief supplements. These exercises have been developed specifically in case you have different kinds of arthritis.

Physical exercise is essential for those men and women fighting arthritis because it can help improve the joints' mobility. It can likewise improve bone and muscle strength, better control of their weight and even provide some relief from arthritis pain.

What Researchers Have Discovered

Rheumatologists from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands exhibited clear and significant improvement of inflammation by elevating glutathione levels within the affected areas of the body to provide pain relief.

It's time you learned a little more about some great benefits of glutathione being an arthritis natural pain relief health supplement. In fact, glutathione has positive effects on greater than 60 other major diseases and disorders.

Researchers have recognized the crucial role of glutathione in protecting cells. Pub Med, maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, has more than 92,000 articles (50,000 more than on vitamin C) substantiating its health benefits.

One of glutathione's key roles is in the regulation of the immune system. Considering that arthritis is a result of chronic inflammation, researchers have confirmed that if one regulates the body's defense mechanisms through glutathione dietary supplements, inflammation might be lowered or avoided thus providing arthritis pain relief.

Referred to as master antioxidant, some of the advantages of glutathione not only alleviates arthritis symptoms by enhancing the immune system which reduces inflammation, but in addition offers other benefits like lowering blood cholesterol and diabetes relief.

Do Gout Symptoms and Symptoms of Arthritis Always Go Hand in Hand?

Though they have similar symptoms, it is not inevitable that a person with arthritis will develop gout, though one of the symptoms of gout is arthritic-like pain.The word "arthritis" actually describes a group of well-defined symptoms, usually disturbing the joints, all having associated indicators. These can include pain, stiffness and swelling of the joints and neighboring regions. The term "arthritis" literally means "inflammation of the joint".

What should a person know about arthritis symptoms?

Arthritis can assault many or just one joint gradually over time or suddenly; depending on the specific kind that one might have. Warning signs may come and go or be constant, but usually the results of arthritis are chronic. They will more likely than not remain with you for a long time, possibly for the remainder of your time on earth. A finding of arthritis does not equal being confined to a life of discomfort, however. There are many different treatments for arthritis symptoms. These tend not only to slow the progress of arthritis but to better your range of motion. Your personal physician can fill you in on your options.

But aren't gout symptoms just like arthritis symptoms?

Gout is a form of arthritis. As previously mentioned, just because you have arthritis, you are not automatically condemned to be a sufferer of gout. Though the pain from both is similar in terms of symptoms, and both have common treatments as well, they are not necessarily one in the same. The initial step in the care of gout is to identify the affliction through a blood test. These will ordinarily show an unusually steep level of uric acid. Your personal physician will more likely than not also ask you about other characteristics having to do with your health. Questions about topics such as the use of medications, smoking, consumption of alcohol and diet can be expected. A physician may even need to aspirate your joint to check for uric acid crystals.

Regardless of the cause of the symptoms, the use of cold or hot packs, a heated pool, a whirlpool, or even sitting in warm baths may encourage the recession of acute episodes. There are many numbers of treatments that can decrease the discomfort resulting from gout symptoms and symptoms of arthritis, encourage your range of motion, and possibly even discourage the progression of the disease. Maintaining a healthy outlook helps in the curative course of action.

Arthritis - 3 Tips to Help Slow Its Progress

The main factors for susceptibility to arthritis are age, sex and it being heredity but there are steps you can take to minimize the onslaught of this debilitating condition.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle is one option this includes exercising, eating correctly, practicing weight loss and using a safe natural herbal supplement.

More than 200 types of arthritis have been identified. While the more severe forms are crippling, the milder ones often go unnoticed, the most commonly occurring form of joint inflammation is osteoarthritis, which is caused by wear and tear of a cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis is the second most common form. Arthritis statistically is known to affect three times the number of women as men and has been found in the bodies of young adults.

It is a common misconception that arthritis only affects older people, the fact is, that it can strike at any age.

Arthritis is known to be present in the bodies of around 20,000 children worldwide some as young as 12 years old. The signs of arthritis in children are often overlooked, these errors can be attributed to insufficient training in rheumatic diseases. In their five years of education, most medical students undergo a mere, two weeks, training period in rheumatology.

According to Peter Prouse, a rheumatologist at North Hampshire Hospital, it is very important to identify the condition at the earliest possible point in children. He states "The majority of children disabled by the disease are the ones who are mis-diagnosed in the first five years. This results in damage to the soft tissues around joints and the joint itself, they eventually cannot move either the knee or hip resulting in the wasting of muscles which inhibits normal mobility."

Here are 3 tips that may help reduce the progress of arthritis.

Weight Loss - When arthritis starts to set in people tend to lessen their physical activity due to the fear of the pain becoming too much to bear or causing further damage, this is the wrong thing to do as it can lead to the muscles becoming weaker which in turn can make you gain pounds or even cause obesity. Ensure that you have a healthy diet with ample fruit, fish, vegetables and a natural supplement if required.

Daily Exercise - like cycling, swimming or walking, to strengthen support muscles and keeping the joints moving helps with some of the characteristics of arthritis, these types of activity have helped many people cope with the discomfort caused by this painful disorder. Daily activity should also help muscle rejuvenation, relieve pain also help with the stabilization and ease the stiffness of joints.

Diet Control - Early research intimates that foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, ginger, glucosamine (extracted from shellfish) and chondroitin (from cow cartilage) can reduce inflammation and pain and have a strong anti-inflammatory effect on arthritis.

The Best Diet For an Arthritis Patient

Now more than ever, doctors are beginning to believe that some of the severity of arthritis can be reduced by eating the right foods and avoiding others. There needs to be a great deal more research done to investigate the right diet for every type of arthritis, but past successes have proven that there is a connection between what we eat and how bad our arthritis symptoms are. For instance, a gout patient who avoids alcohol and eats purine-rich foods can lower the uric acid level in the blood. Less uric acid drastically reduces the chances of having a gout attack.

Watch Your Weight to Lower Arthritis Risk

People who are as little overweight as 20% have shown a far greater risk of developing arthritis and of aggravating existing arthritis conditions. It is easy to understand that extra body weight will add to the stress placed on damaged joints. People who eat more also experience a greater likelihood of eating something that acts like an allergen in triggering flare-ups of arthritis and altering the immune system.

Any diet that is well-balanced and healthy will contribute to the well-being of an arthritis patient. In addition, it's always the smartest practice to avoid fad diets. You can never tell with a fad diet if you're getting the nutrients necessary for overall health and well-being.

Tests on the effects of high cholesterol and high fat foods on arthritis have proven that both contribute to the development of arthritis as well as to the increased pain levels of current patients. To start with, you want to eat a diet low in these items in order to avoid getting arthritis. If you already have arthritis, avoiding these foods will help relieve pain.

Among the foods that all people should avoid, and especially arthritis patients, are:

• Foods from fast food restaurants


• Soda


• Potatoes, pasta, and other starchy foods


• Red or other fatty meats


• Foods that are high in saturated fats

Some foods are beneficial to those suffering from arthritis because they seem to relieve pain. Fruits which contain high vitamin C content include oranges, strawberries, and apples. Oily fish are high in vitamin E, and whole grain wheat products and brown rice also contain beneficial properties.

In the western world, people eat diets that are far too heavy in cholesterol and fat. This diet is detrimental to the health of everyone, but arthritis sufferers may be making their symptoms worse by continuing to eat this way. Everyone should be eating a diet high in nutritious foods that don't contain fats and cholesterol. Not only will this type of diet contribute to overall well-being, but it will also help people maintain their ideal weight. Overweight arthritis patients need to be the first to take up the cry: Fight Fat, Eat Right!

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet - Natural Cures That Treat and Cure RA

If you are depressed and suffer from achy joints and are in constant pain you need help now. The good news is there is an all-natural cure for your arthritis. Listen; there are millions of people just like you who suffer in silence. Arthritis can be a daily nightmare...fingers gnarled, joints sore all the time. You are stressed out and literally in tears from the pain.

Why You Suffer From Arthritis?

Most Americans consume a diet that is acid-forming--too much meat, too many processed foods, not enough raw fruits, vegetables and fresh fish. Here is a list of 12 of the best foods that fight arthritis. If you are looking for an all-natural cure for arthritis start with these. The first 6 foods listed contain high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids which soothe joint pain and inflammation. Tart cherries are a natural anti-pain medicine. The remainder of the foods on this list are good sources of Vitamin C (which is a powerful antioxidant). They also contain calcium and magnesium which are good for bone maintenance.

Wild and fresh salmon
Chia
Flaxseed
Walnuts
Herring
Rainbow trout
Mackerel, except for king mackerel
Tart Cherries
Brussels sprouts
Kale
Spinach
Broccoli

Note that I did not mention milk or dairy products in this list. That's because milk is basically "liquid meat". Dairy products are acid-forming foods. I know the conventional recommendation is to drink more milk, but nothing is further from the truth. Milk and dairy products can exacerbate the problem.

In addition to the foods above you should be drinking powerful herbal teas. Teas like dandelion, green tea, burdock and red clover. These teas are known for their blood cleansing properties. They can destroy the bacteria that is the root cause of rheumatoid arthritis.

What's that? You didn't know that a bacterium has been implicated as the primary culprit for causing rheumatoid arthritis? Well, a doctor over 40 years ago proved this and cured almost all of him patients using this knowledge. Why hasn't the medical establishment made this research public knowledge? Well as Dr. Eli Wallach once said about arthritis, "If the truth were released [to the public], the orthodox doctors would lose an entire specialty [rheumalogy] in short order, so they keep it a secret."

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. If you really want a step-by-step guide to cure rheumatoid arthritis then download a special report that I have written just for you. Learn why I kick milk to the curb and what the medical establishment doesn't want you to know about curing your arthritis with simple ingredients found in your kitchen cupboard. You need to know about a kind of bacteria that is the root cause of almost all cases of rheumatoid arthritis and why most antibiotics usually do not work in eradicating this bacterium.

Psoriasis Vulgaris

Psoriasis vulgaris, also known as plaque psoriasis, is the most common form of psoriasis and accounts for up to 90% of cases.

Psoriasis vulgaris is an immune-mediated disease which means that it results from unusual activity in the immune system. The result is that one's body begins to accelerate the growth cycle of skin cells to a very high pace, thus causing the characteristic appearance of sloughing, scaly, inflamed patches of silver-white skin.

Areas behind joints such as the knee and elbow are most susceptible to psoriasis vulgaris plaques. However, any region of the body can be affected including the scalp, feet and genitals.

While acute psoriasis may occur as a result of drug interactions, streptococcal infections and other rare situations, the great majority of psoriasis vulgaris sufferers must live with this condition chronically. That is not say that the patient suffers continuously as this condition tends to occur cyclically: flare-ups followed by periods of lull.

Up to 翻 of sufferers also experience scalp psoriasis which is characterized by flaking of the skin on the scalp resulting in a dandruff-like appearance.

Another problem associated with this condition is psoriatic arthritis, which is similar to the commonly known osteoarthritis and occurs in up to 40% of psoriasis sufferers.

It is not well-known what causes this disease although there is likely a genetic component. While genetics play a part, environmental influences such as stress, diet, etc., are thought to play a role.

Psoriasis vulgaris is generally diagnosed visually by a physician or dermatologist.

Treatment is decided based upon the severity and degree of spreading of the psoriasis plaques.

Treating this condition generally involves alleviating the symptoms and addressing the health of the patient as a whole. Treating the plaques can be done with topical lotions and creams. Another common approach to treating psoriasis is the use of phototherapy (light therapy). This treatment approach can be very effective but it also carries several risks including the possibility of scarring, blistering, irritation and increased risk for skin cancer.

For very severe cases, systemic (pills and injections) treatments may be prescribed. These include very potent drugs that mitigate psoriasis vulgaris symptoms admirably but also carry considerable risks of strong side effects such as birth defects and liver and kidney damage.

Perhaps the most empowering treatment for psoriasis vulgaris is taking great care of one's health by eating an intelligent psoriasis diet, supplementing with adaptogens and exercising regularly, while maintaining a low-stress lifestyle.

Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment by Physiotherapy

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory arthritic disease or spondyloarthropathy, classified with reactive arthritis, bowel disease arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. The underlying relationships between these diseases are complex but they are connected by enthesitis (inflammation of the ligament/bone junctions) and by possession of the HLA B27 gene on white blood cells. The enthesitis process at the joint edges can cause fibrosis and then ossification of the area (bone formation).

The frequency of the HLA B27 gene in the population determines the number of people with Ankylosing spondylitis, the most common disease in the spondyloarthropathy group. AS occurs in about 0.1 to 1.0% of people, being much more common in northern Europe and much less common in equatorial regions and with white people more frequently affected. 100 people may possess the HLA B27 gene but only one or two of them will develop AS unless they have a closely related person with it, in which case their risk rises to 15 or 20%.

Only one female is diagnosed with AS for every three males, and female patients' symptoms are often much milder and some may be missed as a diagnosis of AS. The most typical presenting group is young men under 40 years old, with under sixteen year olds making up to twenty percent of this group. The symptoms appear on average at twenty-five years of age and the diagnosis is rarely made above fifty years old. AS can look like mechanical back pain if sufficient attention to detail is not made. Strong and persistent stiffness is often an answer to the question of how they are in the morning.

Ankylosing spondylitis has similarities but distinct differences from the much more common low back pain:

Morning stiffness in the lumbar spine, lasting at least 30 minutes or longer Exercise improves the back pain and stiffness Rest worsens the pain and stiffness Pain is usually worse in the second half of the night, after a time of rest Peripheral joints are affected in 30 to 50% of patients Tiredness is common AS has systemic affects from its inflammatory nature which can include feeling unwell, fever and loss of weight.

Physiotherapy examination of the spine in an AS patient usually uncovers significantly reduced ranges of spinal movement from normal, with perhaps a reduced lumbar lordosis and an increased thoracic curve. Neck movements may also be limited in later stages and a reduction in chest expansion noted due to rib joint involvement. Peripheral symptoms occur in around a third of patients and the physio will palpate the tender areas, searching for evidence of enthesitis in the insertions of the Achilles tendon and plantar ligament of the foot. These are areas of high mechanical stress and commonly affected.

Postural analysis of the AS patient is the first thing a physiotherapist notes after the subjective examination, recording spinal abnormalities, flexed knees, rounded shoulders or poking head posture. The ranges of movement of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine are measured and a battery of standard measures taken which allows assessment of the disease progression. The hips or other peripheral joints may be affected and these need to be measured also, with the physio likely testing out sites where the enthesis is likely to be painful and inflamed. If the disease is active then the patient may also have joint effusions and may appear unwell, be sweating and not have slept well.

Initially a physiotherapist might treat an active, inflamed site such as the tendo Achilles insertion using ultrasound, ice and gentle stretching, with foot problems responding to insole use. Whole spine exercises are taught with encouragement to get to the end of the movements, concentrating on antigravity movements including extension of the lumbar and thoracic spine, rotation of the thorax and neck retraction and rotations. To counter the typical spinal deformities, patients are taught to rest in good positions such as flat on a firm surface with only one pillow and lying prone. Pool therapy is very popular and effective and patient education is vital to maintain therapy over time.

Understanding Cat Arthritis Symptoms - Caring For An Arthritic Cat

The increasing amount of cat owners feeding highly processed commercial cat food is reported by many veterinary experts to be a contributing factor in the increasing amount of cat arthritis happening in cats.

It is certainly not coincidence that owners who feed their cats homemade and raw food see lower occurrence of degenerative arthritis in their cats.

Today, although there are no concrete proof to show that commercial cat food contribute to arthritis development in cats, it is widely believe that they play a big part, From there, we understand that your cat's diet would play a major effect in preventing this stressful cat disease.

Apart from diet, overweight older cats are also more likely to develop arthritis because of the extra pressure they put on their joints causing the cartilage and bones to wear off faster. Naturally, a cat who enjoys a healthy diet and who exercise regularly will be less likely to suffer from the same condition.

The symptoms of arthritis in cats would be that he will find it difficult to walk around and run. Moving around stiffly, he will not make jumps that he use to make and will have difficulty in climbing up stairs. Showing signs of depression, your cat would hide away and appear listless and even bad tempered. Not allowing you to touch and stroke him in areas where he is painful, he might cry out if you touch him on a painful joint.

To diagnose arthritis in cats, veterinary will observe, use blood test and most importantly the x-ray examination. The X-ray will show joint degeneration in areas of worn, irregular bone position and possible distortion of the joint and see if the bone is causing pain and forcing the cat to stand in an awkward position to compensate for the discomfort.

Arthritis treatment will include medication to help your cat ease the pain on his joints, to aid the regeneration process of cartilage and bone, to build up the fluid within the capsular joints to provide a cushion for the joint itself. Your veterinary will prepare dose of glucosamine and chondroitin that are use for the same purpose in humans for your cat.

You can help your cat to recover by encouraging him to walk whenever possible to prevent the joints from stiffening further. You should try to create a warmer environment for him to rest. A warm water bottle place under his bed might do the trick. The warmth will help your cat to ease pain and loosen his muscles which might be tense because of the constant pain that he is suffering.

Recovery from arthritis is possible with the right treatment and care. Although a hundred percent recovery is not possible, your cat will still be able to enjoy a high quality of life.

Psoriatic Arthritis Treatments Must Be Recommended by an Experienced Doctor

Psoriatic arthritis can be treated by a wide variety of different drugs and medications, some of which are categorized as non-steroidal drugs, commonly abbreviated as NSAID's. Another category of arthritis drugs is DMARD's, which are essentially ant-rheumatic. This type of drug is used to modify the disease, not cure it. Human and animal proteins are used to make the drugs that are designed to treat psoriatic arthritis. This form of arthritis can also be treated with some natural and alternative methods which can be quite effective.

Every Individual Case Is Different

Every individual case of psoriatic arthritis is unique. Some people have already been experiencing skin problems related to psoriasis and then begin to notice symptoms of psoriatic arthritis; they should visit their doctor as soon as possible to start treating the disease. A diagnosis and treatment plan can only be given by an experienced medical professional.

Since the major problems that psoriatic arthritis causes are joint swelling and joint pain, these symptoms will be focused on in most treatment plans. In order to prevent further damage to the joints, psoriatic arthritis treatment methods will work to maintain natural movement of fluids through the joints.

Treatment for psoriatic arthritis will depend largely on how severe symptoms are in the individual being treated. Since there are different types of psoriatic arthritis, this will also affect how the disease is treated. If one type of treatment does not work, it can be changed out for another that may have better success.

Unfortunately, psoriatic arthritis is often misdiagnosed as gout, leading to problems with getting the right treatment as soon as possible. In order to avoid this problem, make sure that you are diagnosed by a doctor who has experience dealing with psoriatic arthritis.

Self-help heat treatments, applying ice to joints, gentle exercises, and relaxation techniques are all easy ways to treat psoriatic arthritis that you can do yourself.

Taking anti-inflammatory medications and pain killers can also be helpful in fighting the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. PUMA treatment, which involves using ultraviolet A light and taking psoralen medicine, can also be effective.

Cure Your Rheumatoid Arthritis - Alcohol, a Possible Treatment to an Impossible Disease

Every patient suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis is searching for alternative remedy, which could lower down growth of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in the body. A recent research states that the people who intake 10 units (not more or less) of alcohol a week have reduced the severity of Rheumatoid Arthritis in body.

In this research, RA patients were initially divided into two groups, First group include those patients who do not take or have alcohol infrequently and the second group include those patients who take alcohol frequently (10 units of alcohol a week or five glasses of wine a week).

After 45 days, patients in the second group were observing lesser pain than before, whereas the condition of first group patients was still degrading at the same pace. Certain blood tests and X-Ray of all the joints were led to validate the reality and it was found that, there was much lower level of inflammation and swelling around the joints of the second group patients. Their X-Ray reports had also reflected less damage to joints of second group arthritis patients when compared to the first group patients in the same duration.

A lot of intense and deep research by research team, depicted that "the alcohol actually restrains the activity of immune system at a certain point which has a major impact on the ground where Rheumatoid Arthritis actually develops in body (when alcohol is taken in limited or prescribed quantity). The alcohol's insensitivity and anti-inflammatory effects tend to lower down the activity of immune system in body and the actual reason behind reduced pain in the second group patients".

The research team said that "the chances of recovering from Rheumatoid Arthritis can certainly increase with regular intake of prescribed quantity of alcohol, however any intake of alcohol apart from the prescribed quantity will certainly be harmful".

This research also resulted that the prescribed quantity of alcohol is also helpful in lowering down symptoms of RA severity in the body. The symptoms of RA were also found low in the people who drink frequently and high in non-drinkers. In fact, alcohol is also useful in pulling down the risk of heart disease in many patients.

Rheumatoid Arthritis medicines, including immuno suppressant drugs like Confluence could damage the liver if patient intake more quantity of alcohol apart from the prescribed quantity with any immuno suppressant medicines. The patients should certainly not exceed prescribed 10 units of alcohol or 5 glasses of wine a week in order to get relief in joint pain. It should be noted that drinking of more quantity of alcohol, taking regular medicine or any antibiotic could harm liver.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease, which is clearly a reflection of changing lifestyle, more than 2 percent of world population is currently affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis. There is an urgent need to find alternative treatment, which can lower down the RA effects and restrain further damage. Millions are spent every year to discover a medicine to cure Rheumatoid Arthritis, patients can certainly restrain themselves from every form of arthritis by adopting few simple measures.

A recent research conducted by a private arthritis research website, resulted that every men aged 45 and women aged 42 will be suffering from one or the other form of arthritis after 2020.